New teachers settle in at Burley-in-Wharfedale (From Wharfedale Observer)

New teachers settle in at Burley-in-Wharfedale

2:12pm Thursday 15th November 2007 in Schools By Gazette Readers

GHYLL Royd School has boosted its teaching staff with the arrival of four new teachers, meaning it now has a dedicated tutor for each class.

The school now has 24 specialist teaching staff for its 91 boys, helping to further develop the Burley-in-Wharfedale school's many and varied extracurricular activities.

Nursery teacher Laura Halstead has previous taught at Ashfield Primary School in Otley. She holds a BEd from Homerton College, Cambridge, and attended Skipton Girls' High School.

She is assisted by Laura Richardson, who is Nursery Nurse Examination Board qualified, and has previous taught at Ben Rhydding's now closed Clevedon House School.

Phil Skerratt is in charge of Year 5 and the boys' preparation for their 11-plus examinations. He has enjoyed a successful career in a variety of schools in the area, and has most recently worked as deputy head teacher at All Saints' School, Otley.

Music teacher Anna Phelps has taught at Woodhouse Grove School and Harrogate Ladies' College, as well as working for Education Leeds where she helped deliver the National Curriculum for music in primary schools.

Ghyll Royd School head teacher Irene Connor, said: "I do believe a schools' most important resource is its' teachers and we have worked hard to carefully select our new staff to complement an enthusiastic, dedicated and very positive team.

"I am absolutely delighted with our new members of staff. They have all settled extremely well and bring with them a tremendous amount of experience and expertise. We all look forward to a fruitful, rewarding and happy future."